U.S.-based Mercedes-Benz fans who find the Sprinter to be too big will soon have another van to choose from.
The German marque has shared a teaser image of its upcoming luxury people mover. The new model will debut next year before launching in 2026 and has already been confirmed for a stateside release.
The currently unnamed van will be built on Mercedes’s new Van Electric Architecture, otherwise known as VAN.EA. The new platform was announced in the spring of 2023 and will serve as the base for all the automaker’s battery-powered vans going forward, whether they be for private or commercial use. The setup will be both “modular and scalable,” allowing for different wheelbases, battery sizes, and front- or all-wheel drive.
A prototype of the van undergoing road testing
Mercedes-Benz
Little is known about the van that Mercedes is working on other than that it will fill the hole left in the automaker’s lineup by the discontinuation of the Metris in 2023. The vehicle is expected to be a mid-size model and will be aimed at the luxury segment. A brief press release accompanying the teaser image states that VAN.EA vans will “range from high-end family vehicles and exclusive VIP shuttles to spacious limousines tailored to the most discerning customers.”
The vans do seem pretty far along in the development process. Earlier this fall, Mercedes shared images of prototypes undergoing road testing. The EVs were wearing camouflage wraps, so it’s hard to make out any details, but their general shape and profile suggest they probably won’t be winning any design awards. The Sprinter isn’t a particularly stylish vehicle either, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming the go-to base for luxury camper vans.
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out more about the van. The press release notes that Mercedes’ next generation of vans is expected to make their global debut in the spring of 2025.
The van, whatever it ends up being called, isn’t the only new Merc to look forward to. An electric four-door coupé and high-performance SUV that will make more than 1,000 hp, both of which will be built on the new AMG.EA platform, are expected to make their debuts in 2025 as well.
